Page 111 of Analysing Her Assets

Danny’s fingers trilled a lock of Tamar’s hair.

“You’ll never be chief now, you know that.”

“Yes, but I need the paycheck.”

“You’ll bump Marina from her senior tech analyst position? I thought she was your friend?”

“I thought Yelena was my friend. So? It’s every man for himself now.”

“Listen, about Yelena...” Danny took a small step back, sipped from his wine glass. He tried to look unconcerned. “She told me she has some recordings of me when she broke it off with me. Do you know anything about it?”

“Recordings? No. I’m not talking to Yelena. But you shouldn’t be worried. As you said, there will be nothing because there is nothing.”

“I’ll trade you favors. You get those recordings and I’ll get you your job back.”

“Are those the recordings where you talk to Berdiplast’s CFO?”

Danny shook his head.

“Nah, I made up Berdiplast, just as I made up your part. That CFO isn’t bright, but he isn’t bent.”

Gideon was so grateful to Tamar. In one move she cleared Berdiplast’s name, in front of the ISA, no less.

“Then you shouldn’t be worried, right?”

“Iam worried.”

“What are you saying, Danny? I’ll help you, but I need to know what I’m getting into.”

“Well, I guess there’s no harm in talking to you. After all, if you ever decide to flip on me, it will always be your word against mine.”

“I’ll owe you, Danny.”

“Are you still with Gideon?”

“You know very well we’re not together.” Her voice cracked a little. “He blames me for not telling him that his CFO was crooked.” Gideon lowered his binoculars. Everyone in the dark room turned to stare at him. He would spend the rest of his life making up for it.

“I need you to be friends with Yelena again. To erase those stupid recordings, and if you can bury her machine’s findings, that’s even better.”

“I was right about Lusson! I knew it.”

“And Annadin, and Israweed. I need all of it.”

“No shit, Danny, Israweed.” Tamar was laughing, making the big man laugh with her. “That’s rich!”

“The CEO gave me as much stuff as I want. I have some if you want to get high.”

“Let’s go.” Gideon was so engrossed he forgot there were other people in the room. Eran Green and Ilan bumped his shoulder as they left through the door.

“He is going down. Keynan is going down.” Green’s voice carried from the hall. “Peaks’ Brokerage, Ilan, big one!”

“Enjoy,” the PI’s cool voice answered.